Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Artist David
Hardy specializes in bringing his own style to the macabre. An avid fan of
monsters since the time of his boyhood, he derived a lot of inspiration from
the old creature features that would be broadcast every Friday night. Combining
his love of art and monsters, he became an impressionist in many different
mediums from pencil to pastels. Hardy, who will gladly take commissions,
displays his work at many retro shows and comic cons in the tri-state area. He
describes his work as “kitschy” subjects from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. Here at
This Peculiar Life NYC, Hardy opened up about his love of monsters, comics,
growing up in what he considers a wonderful age of art and striking a familiar
chord with folks who never quite fit in.

This Peculiar Life NYC: What got you into
doing portrait’s specifically?David Hardy: I
have always had a fascination with the human face. It is, after all, “the
mirror to our soul!” Being perverse in nature, I chose the hardest subject to
conquer! I have a drive to get the best likeness I can no matter what media I’m
using! If it is someone famous, of course I want to make a work that is
instantly recognizable, but even the most seemingly obscure subject deserves
the same dedication!

TPL NYC: Do you use any other
forms or mediums to express your art? If so, which ones do you prefer?

DH: Right now,
I’m working primarily in pencils, brush, and ink. Because my subjects generally
lend themselves to gray scale (I do a LOT of
classic monsters from black and white films!) I have worked in just about every
medium from oils, acrylics, watercolor, and pastels.

TPL NYC: You have a special
interest in monsters and monster movies what do you think it is about these
monsters that appeal to you so much?

Hardy's rendition of Sammy Terry

DH: Yes I do! I
think there is a bit of the perceived “oddity” and outcast hiding in all of us if
we are honest with ourselves! I think the classic monsters such as
Frankenstein’s Monster, the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, the Phantom of the
Opera, are all extensions of ourselves placed in a context that most
intelligent people can understand. I see a LOT
of myself in these misunderstood fellows! I was an extremely shy and
introverted little boy growing up in Indianapolis,
Indiana in the late fifties and
sixties. The “Shock Theater” package was being sold at the time to stations
around the country. Most stations created a local ghoul or mad doctor to introduce
the films. In my local area, we had Nightmare Theatre horror host Sammy Terry!I LOVED those magical Friday nights when I
could immerse myself in those glistening, silver gray, shadow filled, storm
drenched masterpieces of gothic horror. Although, the master, Boris Karloff,
hated that description of what he did and preferred to refer to his “babies” as
TERROR films!I saw myself in those
misunderstood, perceived “monsters.”I
too was outcast somewhat and misunderstood by many! Still am ha!

TPL NYC: Do you have
a favorite monster that you enjoy following and drawing the most? DH: My favorite
monster to watch is The Creature From the
Black Lagoon. Again, I can relate to this shy, imposed upon creature simply
trying to live his life and be left alone. My favorite monster to draw, however,
is the Frankenstein Monster. Boris Karloff’s interpretation, of course

TPL NYC: What was the
first monster movie/book/t.v. show that you remember seeing?

DH: Wow…the
very first one? Hmm… probably the original 1931 Frankenstein. I remember it took me a couple of tries to get through
it.Obviously, it made quite an
impression on me!

TPL NYC: You have a
preference it seems for the old B-movies and horror movies of the 40’s and
50’s. What is it about this time period that you like so much?

DH: That’s
true!Well…for one, I am of that time
period! I was born in 1955. I think it was just a wonderful time when all the
“stars” aligned to create this great golden era of fantasy and science fiction
films! We will never see the like again. Great directors such as James Whale,
Tod Browning, Karl Freund, Earl C. Kenton, Roy William Neil, also great actors
and actresses such as (Boris) Karloff, Lon Chaney Sr. and Jr., Bela Lugosi,
George Zucco, Lionel Atwill, Dwight Frye, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, Gale
Sondergaard, Evelyn Ankers, etc…a wonderful era!

(Hardy's rendition of The Creature from the Black Lagoon)

TPL NYC: How do you
feel about the state of horror movies today? What do you like about them and
not like about them?

DH: The state
of horror films today?!Uhh…don’t get me
started! Ha! Seriously, I don’t see the quality of acting or the strong hand of
a GREAT director in today’s films. I don’t believe that they are character
driven stories anymore. Everything today is special effects and “bigger is
better!”Some of the best horror films
ever made were made for little money and the directors and actors had to build that
story for us and make it immersive to us.I see that lacking in today’s work. I’ll stop there.

TPL NYC: You share a
very famous birthday with a famous horror icon? Who is it? DH: Yes I
do!The one and only “Karloff the
Uncanny” and his daughter Sara are also born on November 23rd. No wonder we
have a connection!

TPL NYC: Do you feel
that you share a lot of similar qualities to Karloff?

DH: I would
like to think so. According to his lovely daughter Sara Karloff, he was a
gentle, loving man who had a special affection for children and dogs. I’d like
to think he and I shared a work ethic as well, do the best you can at whatever
it is called upon you to do! Give one hundred percent EVERYTIME!

TPL NYC: Have you
gotten a chance to meet any of the people that you have drawn? What was that
experience like?

(Hardy's rendition of Karloff as the monster)

DH: I’ve met
many of my youthful idols. I’ve met Van Williams who played the Green Hornet on
t.v. I’ve met three of the Hammer Girls Martine Beswick, Caroline Munro,and Veronica Carlson, I’ve met Judith O’dea,
but probably my biggest thrill so far has been presenting gifts sketches to my
all time crush the lovely Miss Julie Adams of The Creature
From the Black Lagoon fame and Richou Browning who played the Creature in
all three films! When I met Miss Adams, the first time I couldn’t even talk to
her, my wife Tracy had to go up to her and ask her if I could get an autograph
and a picture!

Another of my favorite subjects that I’ve met is Miss America 1955
and well known actress Miss Lee Meriwether! She is one of the nicest and most
beautiful women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!I’ve met Miss Barbara Steele who made all of
those iconic Italian gothic masterpieces in the sixties. I’ve met Miss Sara
Karloff, daughter of my favorite monster maker Boris Karloff! A HUGE thrill!
I’ve met Lon Chaney, the grandson and great grandson of Lon Chaney Sr. and Lon
Jr. I’ve been a very fortunate man!

TPL NYC: How long
does it usually take you to compose an image from initial conception to
finished drawing?

DH:I work FAST! I usually get an idea for a
piece, research images, and decide on a particular one that says what I want it
to say and then I go at it!I find that
if I work to slowly, I start over thinking the process. I like to channel that
original enthusiasm into the final product!Depending on the size and detail…perhaps one to two hours!

(Hardy's portrait of Vincent Price)

TPL NYC: Tell me
about some of your travels? What are some of the places you have gone to in
order to promote your work? Are there any special conventions or exhibits that
you have showcased at?

DH: I’ve been to
quite a few conventions. My favorite is the Monster Bash held annually in Mars,
Pennsylvania.
It’s three days of immersive monster fun! This past “Bash” I was especially
honored to have some of my artwork in Monster
Bash Magazine. It made the experience that much more satisfying for me!I’ve had my work at several different venues
such as the Clifton Comics Expo, Hasbrouk Heights Comic Show, Sketch Con, The
Geek Flea Market, and I did Free Comic Book Day at Comic’s Explosion in Nutley. I’ll be the guest
artist of the month at the upcoming Wayne,
New Jersey Toy Show. I’ll be down
the shore at the Jersey Shore Comic Con. I’ll also be appearing at the SCR, Langhorne Square, PA,
Mini-Con at the end of this month!I
keep busy. Ha, ha!

(Hardy does Black Canary)

TPL NYC: You also
draw some lovely ladies that in a pin-up style. Is there one that you like to
draw the most or that you use to reference as inspiration?

DH: Yes, I love
to draw pin-up style girls! I love women! I’ve done pieces with Bettie Page,
Diane Webber, and I like to just make up my own ideal girl a lot of the time!
It makes her more personal for me! I
love the work of Gil Elvgren, Frank Frazetta’s women are gorgeous, Fritz Willis,
Zoe Mozart and many great artists who captured the beauty that is woman! TPL NYC: Aside from
monsters, you also do a lot of images of superheroes and comic book characters.
What comics got you interested in drawing?

DH: I do some
comic book characters. I grew up during the Silver Age of the late sixties and
seventies, so I gravitate to those characters. My first idol in comics was Batman.
I love the fact that he has no super powers! He is a true hero who is willing
to face death every time he combats evil.I’m a fan of the Sub-Mariner and Green Lantern. [When it comes to] newspaper
strips [I liked] The Phantom, Rip Kirby, Hogarth’s Tarzan are some of my favorites!

TPL NYC: Are there
any comic book titles that you still follow? If so, which ones are you reading?

DH: I still
follow The Rocketeer, when it’s
handled correctly. I’m loving this new book combining Eisner’s Spirit with The Rocketeer it looks great! And the story seems solid, which for
me is a very important element!

(Hardy's rendition of Jack Nicholsen as the Joker)

TPL NYC: Aside from
you art, what else do you enjoy doing? Any other hobbies or interests that you
would like to explore?

DH: I love to
read!I enjoy listening to music. I love
nature, walking and taking photographs for possible future paintings!I like to play the guitar … I LOVE classic
film obviously!

TPL NYC: Of all the
pieces that you have worked on, which ones have you found to be the most
rewarding?

DH: The ones
that I feel “flowed” from me. I consider myself an impressionist. I work fast
and I strive to build that kinetic energy into my work. When I feel as though
every stroke is right, every shadow falls where it should, every highlight is
spot on…that’s when I feel I’ve done my job! Ironically, most of the work I thought
was my best usually doesn’t illicit a strong response from the public. Ha!

TPL NYC: Also, which
ones do you find to be the most challenging?

DH: Most
challenging?Probably commissions I
couldn’t connect to in a personal way. Pieces I had to sort of “piece together”
from reference given to me. I’m a very individual (read that as PECULIAR! Ha! )
artist and I find it very difficult to do work that I don’t connect to on some
personal level.

TPL NYC: Of all the different characters that you draw, which one do you feel customers have demanded the most?

TPL NYC:So this blog
is about Peculiar People. What is the most peculiar thing you have every
witnessed or been a part of in your life that you can recall?DH: It is ironic
and highly appropriate for me to be in an article honoring the peculiar! Since
I am proud to count myself amongst them, the most peculiar… I guess me dressing
up as a mask luchador at the Monster Bash Night of Mexican Wrestling Films.

TPL NYC: What is the
most peculiar thing you have ever experienced in New York City?

DH: I LOVE New York City! [I like] going
into the city at Christmas time to experience RockefellerCenter
and seeing a group of clowns talking to Santa Clause. AWESOME!

To learn more
about David Hardy you can follow him on his Facebook page Retro Reflections and
Modern Impressions of David G. Hardy. His

portfolio is also featured on the main page on the official Boris Karloff website
(www.karloff.com).

To meet him in
person, Hardy will be a guest artist at the Wayne, New Jersey
Toy Show on Saturday, October 6th. Then you can see him at the Jersey Shore Comic
Con on November 3rd in Forked
River, N.J. You can
find out more on his Facebook page.